Actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar, who launched the Men Against Rape and Discrimination (MARD) campaign earlier this year, believes that the concept of fast-track courts must live up to its name, thereby granting speedy justice to victims of rape.

He also believes it can result in a serious difference to rising number of crimes against women.

"I feel that the fact that cases can go on for so long, emboldens people. I feel the concept of fast-track courts, which really hasn't come into effect the way we hoped it would... if that can happen, it will probably make a serious difference, " the 39-year-old said here Wednesday.

"Right now the rate of conviction is very low and that is because of the process of judiciary moving really slow, " Farhan said in reaction to the recent Mumbai rape case of a photojournalist.


Farhan stated that if there is fear of law, it will deter potential criminals from committing crimes.

"I think a certain degree of fear factor in the mind of somebody who is a potential offender is important. There has to be respect for law, there also has to be fear that 'I will get caught', " Farhan said.

A 22-year-old photojournalist was raped by five men in an abandoned textile mill complex in central Mumbai last week after her male colleague was beaten and tied-up.

All five accused have been arrested.